Chapter 2

The next day, I found myself back at Eden for my psychological evaluation.

Two o'clock sharp.

I'd spent the morning trying not to think about Sebastian. About the way his fingers had lingered during the examination. About how my name had sounded when he said it.

Focus, Aria. You have a job to do.

The receptionist directed me down a different hallway this time. Softer lighting. Warmer colors. Everything designed to make you feel safe.

"Dr. Rivers will see you now," she said, stopping at a door marked with a simple nameplate.

I knocked and heard a gentle voice call, "Come in."

Nathan Rivers' office was nothing like Sebastian's.

No medical diplomas on the walls. No sterile equipment. Instead, there were soft couches, green plants in every corner, and warm lamps that made everything glow golden. It felt more like someone's living room than a doctor's office.

"Aria?" A man stood up from behind a modest desk. "I'm Nathan Rivers."

He was different from Sebastian in every way. Shorter, maybe five-eleven. Dark curly hair that looked like he ran his hands through it. Warm brown eyes behind wire-rim glasses. He wore a simple button-down shirt and khakis instead of a white coat.

When he smiled, it reached his eyes.

"Please, sit wherever you're comfortable," he said, gesturing to the seating area.

I chose the armchair. He took the couch across from me, a small coffee table between us. He had a notebook, but he didn't open it right away.

"Can I get you anything? Water? Tea?"

"I'm fine, thank you."

"Great." He settled back into the couch, completely relaxed. "So, Aria. Tell me why you want to become a surrogate."

Standard question. I had my answer ready.

"I want to help couples who can't have children naturally," I said. "And honestly, the financial compensation would help with my student loans."

He nodded, jotting something down. "That sounds very practical. But I sense there might be more to it than that."

My heart rate picked up.

"What do you mean?"

"Well, surrogacy is a big decision. Nine months of your life. Your body. Your emotions." He leaned forward slightly. "Most people have deeper reasons than just money and altruism."

His voice was so gentle. So understanding. The kind of voice that made you want to spill all your secrets.

"I suppose I've always wanted to help people," I said carefully.

"That's beautiful." He wrote something else. "Do you have family support for this decision?"

"Yes. My sister is very supportive."

"That's wonderful. Tell me about her."

I hesitated. This was dangerous territory.

"Her name is Sophie," I said, trying to keep my voice steady. "She's... she's always been there for me."

"Is she in California?"

"She..." I paused. "She's not here right now."

Nathan's brown eyes studied my face with gentle attention. "It sounds like you miss her."

Suddenly, my eyes started to water.

Damn it.

"Sorry," I said quickly, wiping at my eyes. "I don't know why I'm getting emotional."

"Hey, it's okay." Nathan's voice was so kind. "Missing someone you love is completely normal."

He reached across the coffee table and handed me a tissue box. When our fingers brushed, his were warm and soft.

"Take your time."

I took a tissue, grateful for the moment to compose myself. Nathan didn't push. He just waited, giving me space to feel whatever I was feeling.

This man was dangerous. Not in the way Sebastian was dangerous, with his intensity and professional charm. Nathan was dangerous because he made me feel safe. Safe enough to tell the truth.

"Sophie has always supported my dreams," I said finally. "Even when they seemed impossible."

"She sounds like an amazing sister."

"She is."

Nathan made another note. "How do you handle stress, Aria?"

"I'm pretty good at staying calm under pressure."

"What about when things get overwhelming? We all have coping mechanisms."

I thought about my real coping mechanisms. Late nights hacking into secure systems. Planning revenge. Training my body to be a weapon.

"I like to stay busy," I said instead. "Keep my mind occupied."

"That's healthy. But sometimes staying busy can be a way of avoiding feelings." He set his notebook aside. "Can I try something with you?"

"What kind of something?"

"A relaxation exercise. I notice you're holding a lot of tension in your shoulders."

He was right. I hadn't realized how tense I was.

"Okay."

"Great. Just close your eyes and focus on your breathing."

I closed my eyes, hyperaware of every sound in the room. The soft hum of the air conditioning. The distant sounds of the clinic. Nathan's breathing.

"Now, take a deep breath in through your nose," he said softly. "Hold it. And slowly release through your mouth."

I followed his instructions, surprised at how immediately calming his voice was.

"Good. Again."

After a few breaths, I heard him stand up.

"I'm going to place my hands on your shoulders," he said. "Is that okay?"

I should have said no. Should have kept this professional.

"Yes."

His hands settled on my shoulders, warm and gentle. He began to massage the knots of tension I'd been carrying for months.

"You're very tense," he murmured. "Try to let it go."

His fingers worked at the muscles in my shoulders and neck. The pressure was perfect. Professional, but somehow more than that. There was something almost intimate about the way he touched me.

"That's it. Just relax."

Without thinking, I let myself lean back against him. His chest was solid, warm. I could feel his heartbeat against my shoulder blade.

"Is this okay?" I asked softly.

"What feels right is right," he said, his voice close to my ear. "Feelings are the most honest thing we have."

My pulse quickened. Not from stress this time. From something else entirely.

"Better?" he asked, his hands still working at the tension.

"Much better."

"Good." His voice was soft, almost intimate. "I want you to feel safe here, Aria. Safe to be yourself."

Safe to be myself. If only he knew who I really was.

"I feel like you really understand me," I said.

It wasn't completely a lie.

"I care about you," he said gently. "More than I probably should, professionally speaking."

"Do you regret it?"

"Never."

I reached up and covered one of his hands with mine. "I don't either."

We stayed like that for a moment. His hands on my shoulders. My hand covering his. The room quiet except for our breathing.

Finally, he stepped back. I opened my eyes and turned to face him.

"I should probably wrap up the evaluation," he said, but he didn't move to get his notebook.

"Of course."

"Aria?" He was looking at me with those kind brown eyes. "I see sadness in you. Like you've lost something important."

My breath caught. How could he see that?

"I..."

"It's okay," he said gently. "We all have people we've lost. I just want you to know that if you ever need someone to talk to, I'm here."

I looked at this gentle man who seemed to see straight through me.

Maybe he really did care about me.

Maybe this wasn't all just part of his job.

"Thank you," I said. "That means more than you know."

He smiled, and I felt something shift in my chest. Something warm and dangerous.

"Same time next week?" he asked.

"Yes."

As I left his office, I could feel his eyes on me. Concerned. Caring.

Walking back through the lobby, I replayed every moment of our session. The way he'd listened. The way his hands had felt on my shoulders. The way he'd made me feel understood.

This was getting complicated.

I'd come here expecting to manipulate them. To use their attraction to get what I needed.

I hadn't expected to feel anything back.